[Mobile-Portable] Screwdrivers and whips

Sat Jan 18 18:51:10 EST 2014

Don't think so.  Screwdrivers inded DO have great reception, even without a
whip.  Kinda like an AM radio with the internal antena, they just WORK.
Vy 7 3
Earl
KD5XB

On Sat, Jan 18, 2014 at 4:49 PM, <N1KHB at aol.com> wrote:

> Randy,
>    Maybe you lost the whip closer to your destination than you  thought
> which might be an explanation as to why reception was still good along  the
> trip. Just a thought.
>
> Sonny N1KHB
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 1/18/2014 6:32:33 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> n5wv at comcast.net writes:
>
> Hello  Group , I had only used Hustler HF antennas while mobile and had
> good results.  Then went to a Scorpion SA 680 and had better results. Last
> summer I purchased  the American Red Cross Ford Excursion ECRV 4707 from
> the
> Houston chapter. Most  equipment was left intact . It has a SGC HF tuner
> and
> whip system installed.  The whip is about 102 " and perfect for 10 meters.
> It
> does great on 10 to 15  but slacks off compared to the Scorpion. But its
> easier to install. I had a  $500.00 L mount fabricated to mount the big
> heavy
> Scorpion on. Had it done  first class , powder coated , etc. There is just
> so
> much more receiving with a  Scorpion type antenna so it does better on the
> lower bands. For instance , I  mainly listen. When I first bought the
> Scorpion I purchased a Radio Shack 102  " whip for it. About a month later
> I got
> back home from a trip and the whip  was gone. The whip had broken off just
> above its lug where it screws into the  top of the screwdriver antenna and
> I
> had not hit anyth
> ing at all. After I  removed the broken piece and after closer inspection
> the metal had small  bubbles in it from a bad mix or temp problem. I found
> one of the old Antenna  Specialist 108 " land mobile whips to replace it
> with.
> The RS whip broke off  at some point while I listened to 20 meters the
> entire trip. I know it was on  when I left because I always look at it. But
> throughout the entire trip  listening to 20 meters , I still had great
> signals
> and did not notice any  change in signal strength. Im sure there was some
> signal strength loss . I  even have a 7 " LCD tv atop my dash showing the
> IC
> 7000's display. But there  was no drastic loss of signal. The SA 680's coil
> and tubing was still  receiving a good signal with no whip atop it. To add
> a
> bit more insurance I  added a Antenna Specialist spring between the SA 680
> and 108 " whip. This  takes the pressure of the lug somewhat and moves it
> to
> the springs connecting  part. So the bigger the antenna , the better it
> receives. Have a nic
> e  weekend , Great group here. Randy N5WV
>
> ----- Original Message  -----
> From: "K0DAN" <k0dan at comcast.net>
> To: "Mobile-Portable  Reflector" <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: iam at pmug.org
> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2014 11:01:04 AM
> Subject: Re:  [Mobile-Portable] Screwdrivers and whips
>
> I did the same thing (whip +  tuner). Had a lot of fun (mostly higher than
> 14
> Mhz) and made a lot of  contacts. But missed out on a lot also (mostly
> lower
> than 14 Mhz).
>
> I am no longer mobile on HF but if I were to do it again I would
> definitely
> come up with a screwdriver design, and follow the guidelines on  the K0BG
> site http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=12686
>
> Have fun.
>
> 73
> dan
> k0dan
>
> -----Original  Message-----
> From: David
> Sent: January 18, 2014 00:17
> To:  Mobile-Portable Reflector
> Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] Screwdrivers and  whips
>
> You are right!
>
> I wasn't wise. I should have done my  antenna efficiency studies BEFORE I
> spent all that time and energy on the  whip & tuner installation. BUT,
> going back to the screwdriver cured  the problems.
>
> David
> W7DBH
>
>
>
> ** The K0BG site is like  a Handbook for HF mobile operations. Whether or
> not
> ** you believe an  efficient HF mobile station can be built on-the-cheap,
> you
> ** are sure to  find some good tips and practical info of various
> ** installations here.
> **
> ** My own experience is that the ~108" whip with auto tuner is  relatively
> ** stealthy (as stealthy as a 108" whip can be), but , even  when installed
> ** high
> ** up, has poor radiation efficiency on freq's  below about 14 Mhz. The
> tuner
> ** will make the transmitter happy but a lot  of energy is being lost into
> the
> ** ground and vehicle chassis, and  not going into the ether where it
> belongs.
> **
> ** Of course you can  make contacts at 40M and 80M (even 160?!?) with a
> whip,
> ** but the reality  is a tuned antenna with an excellent vehicle ground
> ** distribution (and  no noise) will give you 3-6 dB or more radiation
> ** efficiency.
> **
> ** As with all things, your mileage may vary.
> **
> **  http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=12686
> **
> ** 73
> **  de k0dan
> **
> **  ______________________________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> David B.
>
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